International Soccer
Philadelphia Union teams draw European opponents in first day of Snow Bowl
The Philadelphia Union U15s played Manchester United to a scoreless draw and the U16 team drew Benfica in a high-scoring 3-3 tie to open the first day of play in the Snow Bowl tournament being hosted at WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester.
The day started with Chicago Fire’s U15s taking on Newcastle in a match the fellow MLS academy won 3-1 and then continued with Lyngby Boldklub U16s beating Chicago Fire 3-1 in a match where three Fire players were sent off. Borussia Dortmund outlasted Monterrey U15s in a 4-3 win and Monchenglabach U16s edged PSV 2-0 in the day’s other action.
All six matches were played indoors on the IBX Field at the sports complex outside Subaru Park.
The U18 age group kicks off play on Tuesday with two evening matches after the U15 and U16 divisions play their games.
The final match of the day was a thriller with the Union U16s taking a 3-1 lead at halftime behind a first half brace from Timoni Gbalajobi after Javier Linares hit home a ball at the back post with his left foot. Landon Mulvenna helped set up the Union’s third goal just before halftime. Things got chippy in the second half (nine cards were shown in all in the match) and the Union were unable to hold the lead, surrendering a pair of goals that drew the game level.
Members of the Union’s U14 and U13 teams and younger players from the SWAG added to the atmosphere during the two Union games, particularly during the three first half goals scored in the U-16 game against Benfica.
